St Lucia Travel Guide

At once exotic and soothing, this charming island invites you to get acquainted with its warm, friendly people, picturesque fishing villages, and awesome natural beauty.

Rich in cultural history and natural beauty, St. Lucia offers a touch of everything you want in a Caribbean vacation. Nestled in the chain of islands known as the Lesser Antilles, St. Lucia traces its colorful history to pre-colonial times, yet it has a legacy of over 400 years of European influence. While the country’s economy is mainly agricultural, its natural attributes have made tourism the fastest growing industry.

Dramatic coastlines are enhanced by coral reefs and isolated beaches of both white and black sand. The iconic, awe-inspiring Twin Pitons soar 2,400 feet up from the southwest shore, sheltering a lush interior rainforest with a profusion of giant ferns, wild orchids, and the beautiful plumage of rare tropical birds. At once exotic and intoxicating, the island’s natural wonders are matched by the cultural magnetism of quaint fishing villages, flavorful Caribbean cuisine, and exciting traditional events.

The capital of Castries, on the island’s northwestern tip, is a hot spot of activity, with Victorian buildings, open-air markets, and an entertaining nightlife. Elsewhere, explorers find banana and cocoa plantations, the famed La Soufrière volcano, aged fortresses, and warm, inviting people proud of their rich heritage.

There are excellent facilities for most leisure interests, including yachting, tennis, and golf. Scuba divers say that St. Lucia ranks high in the Caribbean, with sites like Anse Chastanet Reef, with its shallow reefs, deep walls, and plethora of sea creatures packing the corals. Not into scuba diving? There’s also windsurfing, sailing, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, water-skiing, parasailing, and good old-fashioned swimming!